As vote nears, debate rages on pot question

Mark Leahy has many concerns about Question 4, the ballot issue that would legalize the consumption, cultivation and possession of marijuana for adults over 21.

The executive director of the Massachusetts Police Association and former Northborough police chief worries about the inability of police to target drugged drivers. He notes the unknown consequences legal pot will have on health care and social issues.

"What we are trying to tell our communities is, you know and trust us as the people that are protecting your community every day. We implore you to vote no on this question," he said.

So far such warnings have had little effect. A Suffolk University/Boston Globe poll released on Thursday found voters favor legalized marijuana by 49 to 42 percent.

Question 4 has been one of the most debated ballot questions of the election season.

If passed, marijuana users can possess up to one ounce of marijuana in public or 10 ounces in their homes, and to grow as many as 12 marijuana plants per household.

The law also establishes a three-member Cannabis Control Commission to write and implement regulations and oversee the operations of the new marijuana industry.

Four other states will be voting on recreational marijuana this Nov. 8, including Maine, Arizona, Nevada and California.

While opponents fear it will only create further division in society, supporters view the measure as the end of prohibition.

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Jim Borghesani, the communications director for the Yes on 4 campaign, said legalization will create a safer environment for marijuana users and help eliminate the black market for pot.

But opponents worry about the impact this change will have, on the health of the youth, the effects of drugged driving, and the role legal pot will play in the current opioid crisis.

Leahy warns of the difficulty of establishing a legal system for drugged driving, noting that because marijuana alters THC levels found in the blood, there is no equivalent of a Breathalyzer to test inebriation. An alternative to test is the use of so-called drug recognition experts (DREs), officers who receive special advanced training to identify drug impairment.

"There are not a lot of them, it's an expensive process to train them and a lot of the small towns don't have any budget that will support that," he said.

Proponents have also touted the benefits of a 3.75 percent excise tax on marijuana sales in addition to the state sales tax. Municipalities can choose to add another 2 percent tax.

"The 3.75 percent excise tax on a billion dollars worth of sales by 2020 would give the state $37.5 million just for the administration of our project," said Borghesani.

Opponents downplay the claims of a big payday for the state, saying a new marijuana industry will be the true winner.

"What this is really about is commercializing marijuana in Massachusetts. This ballot question is written by and for the marijuana industry, and unfortunately it puts their profits ahead of the health and safety of our children and communities," state Sen. Jason Lewis said during a recent debate sponsored by the Boston public radio station WBUR.

Opponents also point to the negative side of the ledger, citing the new medical expenses that would be brought on by legalization.

According to a September 2015 report by Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, there was a 29 percent increase in marijuana-related emergency room visits, and a 38 percent increase in the number of marijuana-related hospitalizations when retail marijuana businesses began operating.

Should Massachusetts residents vote yes on 4, both sides are ready to work together toward a comprehensive bill that will benefit the state as a whole.

"If the people decide to do this, we're not going to just pick up our toys and go home. We always have to adapt, we can have our opinion on things, but ultimately, once the voters decide, we have to get in line and be prepared to work with people," Leahy said.

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